Kick Off: Centennial editon of Lamar Hunt US Open Cup kicks off on Tuesday with play-in round

When surveying the state of the professional game in the United States, many rightly point out that MLS is merely a teenager, still waiting to find out what it can become with a bit more maturation. If that's the case, then the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is the grandfather of the game. And on Tuesday, it will officially turn 100 years old as the play-in round begins today. You can find all the information you could possibly want about today's games here, as well as previews for the first round games scheduled for May 14-15.

Now, take that quote above with a grain of salt. Potters boss Tony Pulis has faith in the young American as the club inches toward EPL safety. It's just that Shea arrived following an operation on his foot and is taking time to return to fitness and form. According to Pulis, that was the plan all along: "He was always one for next season. The football club didn't buy Brek to come in and change water into wine. That was never going to be the case."

Mikkel "Mix" Diskerud is one of those players fans love to hype and hate to see left out of the US picture. The thing is, he's not cap-tied to the USMNT just yet, and Norway seems plenty interested in his services as well. In an e-mail exchange with Goal.com, he discussed plenty, but refused to address that pressing issue: "I would rather not address the issue publicly. And I have not done so to the Norwegian press either."

13. BLAZER ISSUED BAN BY FIFA

Former CONCACAF general secretary, American Chuck Blazer, was provisionally banned by FIFA on Monday afternoon in light of alleged breaches of the body's code of ethics that "appear to have been committed," according to a FIFA statement. The ban is for 90 days.

A report from TheGuardian and the area's residents believe that to be the case. Apparently, the club has been buying up houses surrounding the stadium in case of expansion for decades, leaving them empty and, in the process, speeding the decline of the neighborhood around the ground. What do you think? Read the report and discuss in the comment section below.